usaa. we know what it means to serve. >> heather: welcome back. here are the stories making headlines at this hour. a small plane crashes in a park in san diego, killing all three passengers. both the faa and the ntsb are investigating the cause. to syria, where government forces say they have captured a strategic neighborhood, after several days of fierce battle with rebel fighters n. pakistan, new sectarian bloodshed, a homicide bomber, rams a vehicle, packed with explosive, with a bus carrying religious pilgrims. 19 people died. >> eric: as we have been following this morning, the fiscal cliff deadline. we are getting closer. but even if lawmakers managed to reach a deal in time, they will likely put off big decisions on taxes and entitlement programs and the growing $16 trillion budget deficit. how do we deal with that? the former deputy assistant to former president george bush. brad and joe, welcome. >> good to be with you. >> eric: of course. brad, i mean, this morning, the with the was on with the meet the press," blaming republicans. the